‘I am working on a Richard Curtis script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in 6 or 7 weeks,’ he said at the time. ‘Then Bond would be right at the end of the year. But we are working on them both right now.’

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Danny continued: ‘We’ve got an idea, John Hodge, the screenwriter, and I have got this idea, and John is writing it at the moment. And it all depends on how it turns out. It would be foolish of me to give any of it away.’

And then in May, Boyle was confirmed as director via a statement from MGM’s President Jon Glickman and chairman Kevin Ulrich. It said: ‘Under the leadership of Michael and Barbara, we couldn’t be more thrilled than to bring the next 007 adventure to the big screen uniting the incomparable Daniel Craig with the extraordinary vision of Danny Boyle.

‘It’s been 21 years since Tomorrow Never Dies was distributed by MGM and it’s incredibly gratifying to be releasing this film alongside the powerhouse team at Universal.’

Asked if he’ll definitely appear, Whishaw added: ‘Yes I believe I’m contracted to be in it… but I think it’s not happening until the end of the year. I know as much as you do.’

And speaking to Metro.co.uk about Boyle, Whishaw said: ‘I just think it’s really exciting. I was thrilled when I read that he was going to be doing it. I can’t think of a better, more exciting fit for Daniel [Craig] and for the way he’s taken the character and everything.

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‘It seems weird to talk about it because I’ve not had a conversation about it, so it may or may not, who knows what’s going to happen.’

Who’s in the cast?

Producers of the spy thriller are said to be keen to sign the Harry Potter actor up to star opposite Daniel Craig in his fifth and final appearance as 007.

However, Bonham Carter isn’t going to play a Bond girl. Instead, she’s tipped to take the role of main villain in what was Trainspotting director Danny Boyle’s new movie.

An insider told The Daily Mirror: ‘Everyone thinks Angelina Jolie is going to get the part but bosses want Helena more. At the moment they are just finalising the cast.’

Jolie starred with Craig in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider back in 2001 and has been shooting Maleficent 2 in Europe.

Daniel Craig will play Bond for the fifth time in the as-yet-untitled new movie (Picture: Tom Buchanan/silverhub/REX/Shutterstock)

What’s Bond 25 all about?

Reports have claimed that Bond may be married in the 25th film in the series, with a script leak suggesting that Lea Seydoux’s character Dr. Madeleine Swann had married Bond and he had left the secret service for a happily ever after.

‘Bond quits the secret service, and he’s in love and gets married,’ said a Hollywood insider to the New York Post’s Page Six column.

But the source bleakly added Bond will return to the secret service after his wife is killed in order to exact his revenge; the film is rumoured to be a remake of You Only Live Twice only with a new name – Shatterhand, an alias of Bond villain Blofeld’s in the novel You Only Live Twice.

That’s assuming the information from a casting call for Bond 25 is correct, anyway, as it suggests that Boyle and his team are looking for both a Russian actor and actress to play leading roles against Bond in the film.

The male Russian villain – who needs to be aged between 30 and 60 – must speak fluent English and demonstrate the following characteristics: ‘Charismatic, powerful, innovative, cosmopolitan, bright, cold and vindictive.’

Bond’s off to Moscow? (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

The female villain, who must also speak fluent English, must be aged between 30 to 45 and be ‘very striking’, while ‘strong physical / fighting / stage combat skills’ are required for a character who displays ‘intelligence, bravery, ferocity and charm’.

‘She’s witty and skillful. A survivor,’ the description continues.

Producers also appear to be on the hunt for henchmen of Maori descent, with those actors needing to display ‘advanced physical / fighting / stage combat skills’.

Sounds like Bond’s going to have his hands full yet again but, after 24 films of fighting baddies from across the globe, he should be well-skilled in that department by now.

Who will be Daniel’s Bond girl?

Bellucci had a small role in 2015’s Spectre as Lucia Sciarra, who Bond sexed up after killing her husband, but now Craig is reportedly keen for more screen time with the Italian actress, who at 53 would be the oldest Bond girl in the history of the franchise.

‘He wants Monica Bellucci back, that’s for sure,’ a source close to Craig told The Mirror back in October last year, although it is not yet known what negotations have begun for the upcoming 2019 film.

Idris Elba 2/1

James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said she’s open to diversifying the role of Bond and the Daily Star reports that Broccoli had a conversation with director Antoine Fuqua about potentially casting the role with a non-white actor.

The article says Broccoli told Fuqua ‘it is time’ for a person of colour to get the role, with all previous Bonds having been white.

She added that casting an ethnic minority actor as 007 ‘will happen eventually.’

‘Idris could do it if he was in shape,’ she revealed. ‘You need a guy with a physically strong presence. Idris has that.’

Idris, 45, was stopped for a red carpet interview with Good Morning Britain on Monday night at the premiere of his new movie Yardie. In an attempt to squeeze an answer out of the actor, the GMB reporter asked the protocol Bond question – ‘Do you like it shaken or stirred?’

Idris Elba has told Good Morning Britain that he won't be the next Bond.

Although he was quick to deny reports, Idris has certainly had fun teasing the speculation in recent weeks. The British actor played a DJ set at London’s Elrow on Sunday and teased the audience by playing the iconic Bond theme song to start.

Previously, Idris had sent his Twitter followers into a frenzy when he tweeted a photo of himself with the caption: ‘My name’s Elba, Idris Elba.’ However, he later backtracked and told fans: ‘Don’t believe the HYPE.’

Daniel Craig will reprise his role for the final time in Bond 25 (Columbia/EON/Danjaq/MGM/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

He explained: ‘I think it’s more about, ‘We just want to have a black guy play James Bond’, rather than, “Idris Elba, the actor, play James Bond”. That’s the part I’m like, ‘Ugh, come on’. It could be a woman — could be a black woman, could be a white woman — do something different with it, you know?’

Tom Hardy 3/1

The bad man of British acting is no stranger to the big screen having appeared recently in Mad Max: Fury Road, The Revenant, The Dark Knight Rises and Legend.

The British actor starred in the BBC series Taboo and has fuelled Bond rumours after refusing to comment on whether he would like to take over from Daniel Craig, for fear of jinxing his chance.

His odds were slashed when it was revealed that the have-a-go hero turned into a real life Bond and chased a motorbike thief through the streets of Richmond and made a citizen’s arrest.

James Norton 4/1

Could this Yorkshireman handle a license to kill (Picture: Nick Wall)

First nipping into the stakes last year after a number of critically acclaimed roles alongside that of his regular appearances in Grantchester.

His latest role in crime drama McMafia has seen the Yorkshire-born star pushed to the the top of the pile when it comes to blowing up bad guys and swigging martinis (though we’re sure James prefers a pint of Black Sheep himself).

‘It’s really humbling and flattering, but to have my name [talked up for Bond] next to the likes of Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender is just mad. If you’re thinking of putting a bet on me, keep your money in your pocket.’

Aidan Turner 7/1

Aidan Turner is good at running away from journalists (Picture: Getty)

Aidan started his career on stage but soon found fame on the big screen after appearing in The Hobbit trilogy, before landing the lead in Poldark.

The 35-year-old took pole-position in the Bond odds back in August, however, he refused to comment on the rumours at MCM Expo last May.

Jack Huston 8/1

Jack most recently appeared on the big screen in 2016 (sort-of) hit Ben Hur (Credit: Splash)

Jack most recently appeared on the big screen in 2016 (sort-of) hit Ben Hur.

The British actor has also appeared in The Longest Ride, American Hustle and the infamous movie phenomemon, The Twilight Saga.

Cillian Murphy 8/1

Cillian Murphy (Picture: MCPIX/REX/Shutterstock)

The Peaky Blinders star is also on the cards to take over the role from Craig, proving his action prowess in films including the Batman trilogy and Inception.

Tom Hiddleston 16/1

Tom’s stint in The Night Manager has only affirmed what many believe – he’s a sure-fire contender for 007(Picture: WireImage)

He’s made some excellent strides in Hollywood – despite the disaster that was his short-lived romance with Tay Tay – and his stint in The Night Manager has only affirmed what many believe – he’s a sure-fire contender for 007.

Plus he’s not been afraid to throw his hat into the ring for the role before.